Former Astronaut William Anders, Photographer of Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Image, Dies in Plane Crash

Former Astronaut William Anders, Photographer of Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Image, Dies in Plane Crash

Keywords: William Anders, Earthrise, Apollo 8, Plane crash

Nashville, Tennessee (Business Standard) – William Anders, the former astronaut who captured the iconic “Earthrise” photograph during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, has passed away at the age of 85. He died on Friday, September 25th, 2023, in a plane crash near his home in Vail, Colorado.

Anders, along with fellow astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, became the first humans to orbit the Moon during Apollo 8. On December 24th, 1968, Anders snapped the now-famous Earthrise image as the spacecraft emerged from the lunar horizon. The photograph, which depicts Earth as a blue and white sphere floating in the darkness of space, became an instant global sensation and has since been recognized as one of the most important images in human history.

After his groundbreaking Apollo 8 mission, Anders continued his career as an astronaut, serving as backup commander for Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission. He later became a vocal advocate for space exploration and the environment.

In 1989, Anders was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Norway by President George H.W. Bush. He held the position until 1991, when he returned to the United States to become chairman of the aerospace company General Dynamics.

Anders’ death has been met with sadness and gratitude from around the world. His iconic Earthrise photograph has inspired generations of people to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet. He will be remembered as one of the pioneers of space exploration and a tireless advocate for human curiosity and progress.